Lowering the Mainsail. (single handed)

In most cases I take the leeward lazyjack forward round a small cleat on the mast just before I remove the last sailtie, so that the mainsail has room to swing out a bit and we do not need to be perfectly head to wind to hoist. In ideal circumstances, or when I'm feeling lazy, I keep the lzayjacks in place, let the boom swing freely and hoist the main between the lazyjacks.
Good batten cars help a lot, I can hoist my fully battened main by hand, except for the last half metre on a 39 footer. When dropping the sail we have to control the halyard in order to stow the main neatly, when sailing solo I just drop it into the lazyjacks and do the stow when alongside
 
As per RunAgroundHard I use the slab reefing lines to secure the first part of the sail. It generally falls under its own weight up to that point, then I put a single turn of the (carefully flaked out) halyard around a coach roof winch, walk up to the mast, pull the remainder of the sail down and secure it with a single sail tie. This is on a 10m boat.

More often that not I hoist the main on my mooring and then sail back onto it at the end of the day so I can do the drop without worrying about my surroundings. From a pontoon berth you could consider picking up a nearby mooring for your hoist and drop, although this might not work well in a strongly tidal location.
 
TLouth7 said:
As per RunAgroundHard I use the slab reefing lines to secure the first part of the sail.......
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I am not sure what you mean there but I acknowledge what you do, so do I.

No need to set set the slab reef very tight, as you would for sailing.

This makes a pocket hanging off the boom. Lower away and stuff the bunts of sail into the pocket. This keeps things at least reasonably under control and tidy.

I like to set the boom into a gallows as in olde worlde practice, then I have something solid to hang onto as I work.

All that said, the only sails I find to fall by themselves as one lowers, are junk sails
 
TLouth7 said:
As per RunAgroundHard I use the slab reefing lines to secure the first part of the sail. It generally falls under its own weight up to that point, then I put a single turn of the (carefully flaked out) halyard around a coach roof winch, walk up to the mast, pull the remainder of the sail down and secure it with a single sail tie. This is on a 10m boat..
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And with lazyjacks and stack pack …….. I can simply release the halyard and let it down gently into the bag. If convenient and want to be super tidy, I can go to the mast and pull the last couple of metres down.
Or if suddenly need sail down in a hurry, just blow the halyard and all drops instantly into the bag (Though once came down too fast and broke the stopper). There is a reason why these systems are so commonly fitted nowadays. It’s like roller furling vs hanks on jibs.
 
I used to have a 53 sq m main and I had lazy jacks that spent their life taken forward apart from when dropping the main. To keep them up permanently results in abrasion against the sail. It takes a few moments to pull them up for a drop, once the sail is stowed and the sail tied up I would put the LJs back to the mast, that way no impediment for the hoist. V simple.
Always did it the same way regardless of whether crewed or solo.
 
No lazy jacks on my old boat, but double running back stays. Now I have lazy jacks and a quick engage autopilot. A lot easier to hoist. My only challenge single handed is when dropping the main is to get it to fold to opposite side at the mast for every second slide
 
srm said:
As you have an autopilot why not stand besides the mast while lowering and flaking the sail?
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Good point. Only the sail runs down to quickly when I release the halyard. With two loose turns on the halyard winch it works fine for the lower half, then the upper half sticks
 
HenrikH said:
Good point. Only the sail runs down to quickly when I release the halyard. With two loose turns on the halyard winch it works fine for the lower half, then the upper half sticks
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How about arranging the halyard so that you can hoist and lower the main at the mast?

Having sailed with lines led to the cockpit and winches on the mast my preference is for working at the mast. I find it easier to see what is going on and anticipate snags before they become problems. Also, there is less friction and its quicker to hoist the main hand over hand until the final tensioning on the winch. Lazyjack falls are on mast cleats so these can be adjusted as needed once the sail/reef is set.
 
srm said:
How about arranging the halyard so that you can hoist and lower the main at the mast?

Having sailed with lines led to the cockpit and winches on the mast my preference is for working at the mast. I find it easier to see what is going on and anticipate snags before they become problems. Also, there is less friction and its quicker to hoist the main hand over hand until the final tensioning on the winch. Lazyjack falls are on mast cleats so these can be adjusted as needed once the sail/reef is set.
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That's just the arrangement I have.

The only improvement I have in mind is to fit a boom crutch with 3 notches so I can drop the boom into it and then it won't swing to and fro as I stand on the coachroof leaning on it while I pass the tyers, which is disconcerting when the boat is rolling.
 
Daydream believer said:
For me I consider that there are 3 really dangerous points of sailing that I cannot avoid (I do not anchor)
Putting lines & fenders away when leaving a port
Dropping & recovering the mainsail at the end of the trip before entering a port
Getting lines & fenders ready to go into port
The more one can stay in the cockpit the better & the less one has to do on deck the better. That includes adjusting lazy jacks. I already have a combination of 26 different controls that can go to my cockpit at different times, so lazy jack line control, or sail downhaul line etc would be a PITA
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I have completely the opposite view. No control lines back to the cockpit from the mast. I couldn't abide all that rope everywhere. We do everything at the masts. So simple
 
geem said:
I have completely the opposite view. No control lines back to the cockpit from the mast. I couldn't abide all that rope everywhere. We do everything at the masts. So simple
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I find that comment "all that rope everywhere" a little odd. One just coils & hangs them on the aft end of the cabin. Neat & easy to hand next to the winches ready for immediate use.
I do note that you use the term, "We". I have to use the term "I" ( well nobody likes me) so that does make a difference to one's sailing style :(
 
Daydream believer said:
I find that comment "all that rope everywhere" a little odd. One just coils & hangs them on the aft end of the cabin. Neat & easy to hand next to the winches ready for immediate use.
I do note that you use the term, "We". I have to use the term "I" ( well nobody likes me) so that does make a difference to one's sailing style :(
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No. When we sail long distance we sail single handed in shifts. Unless it's blowing a full gale the onwatch crew ( me or the wife) does everything singlehanded. Reef, unreef on the main from the mast.
Forward of the wheel in our cockpit there are no ropes or winches. Stood behind the wheel you have access to the jib and genoa sheets and mainsheet. Easy
 
HenrikH said:
No lazy jacks on my old boat, but double running back stays. Now I have lazy jacks and a quick engage autopilot. A lot easier to hoist. My only challenge single handed is when dropping the main is to get it to fold to opposite side at the mast for every second slide
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That can be done when you are on the pontoon/mooring or at anchor. Or in my case at the end of the voyage.
 
Poignard said:
The only improvement I have in mind is to fit a boom crutch with 3 notches so I can drop the boom into it and then it won't swing to and fro as I stand on the coachroof leaning on it while I pass the tyers, which is disconcerting when the boat is rolling.
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I am another of those who favour doing things at the mast like raising and lowering main and putting in reefs. I find it is more efficient and keeps things simple. As as to people saying its more dangerous, well fiddlesticks, theres that great big stick think up there to hang on to and on my boat at least plenty to hold onto when going up there. If there isn't on your boat then there is something wrong with it in my humble opinion.


I'd love a boom crutch on my boat - it's one of those old fashioned things that seems to have gone out of favour mores the pity.
 
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